Movies 4 Gulf Breeze, 1175 Gulf Breeze Parkway, Gulf Breeze, is presenting the Spring Screening Series of the Pensacola Film Festival this weekend, giving area film fans a chance to support the niche movie house’s digital conversion and to help ensure that independent, art-house, documentary and foreign films still have a home in the Pensacola area.

As the motion picture industry moves away from physical 35mm film prints to digital projection, small theaters across the country, like Movies 4, are facing an expensive equipment upgrade that will be necessary to their survival.

Theaters that don’t upgrade will simply be unable to screen new films, as they will only be available digitally. A portion of this weekend’s proceeds will help fund these necessary upgrades.

The programming at this weekend’s festival showcases exactly why Movies 4 is important to film fans.

Along with several of this year’s Academy Award nominees — including the short-subject films not traditionally screened in major chain cinemas — the bill features several films making their Pensacola big-screen debuts.

Tickets are $10 per film, which includes a small popcorn and small soda, with complimentary wine available. Festival weekend passes are available for $50 and include admission to all screenings.

Additionally, screenings in downtown Pensacola will be on the second floor of The Bodacious Olive building, 407 S. Palafox St., on Saturday. See the Oscar-nominated animated shorts at 10 a.m. and the Oscar-nominated live action shorts at 1 p.m. Admission to each screening is $5, and wine will be available for purchase.

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“American Hustle”: As Irving (Christian Bale) and Sydney (Amy Adams) con clientele into a loan scam, they attract the interest of FBI agent Richie DiMaso (Bradley Cooper), who is thirsty for recognition and threatens a bust unless the couple goes in on a plan to nail politicians. Nominated for 10 Academy Awards including Best Picture. (R) 1, 4, 7 and 9:30 p.m. daily.

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“Chasing Ice”: This acclaimed National Geographic documentary about global warning was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song. (PG-13) 1 p.m. daily.

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“Dallas Buyers Club”: Matthew McConaughey portrays Ron Woodroof, a Texas electrician who was diagnosed as HIV-positive in 1986, and ends up devoting his life to providing for fellow HIV patients in Jean-Marc Vallee's drama. McConaughey took the Best Actor at this year’s Oscars, and Jared Leto won Best Supporting Actor for his work in the film. (R) 7 p.m. daily.

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“The Kings of Summer”: Three young men (Nick Robinson, Gabriel Basso and Moises Arias) decide to build a house in the woods to escape from parents and responsibility, but things take a turn when a girl (Erin Moriarty) comes into the mix. (R) 7 p.m. daily.

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“Last Vegas”: Four old friends (Michael Douglas, Robert De Niro, Morgan Freeman and Kevin Kline) head to Vegas for a bachelor party. (PG-13) 1 p.m. daily.

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“Love is All You Need”: An unexpected romance blossoms between a jilted wife recovering from breast cancer (Trine Dyrholm) and the father (Pierce Brosnan) of the man her daughter is engaged to marry. (R) 4 p.m. daily.

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“Much Ado About Nothing”: Writer-director Joss Whedon’s interpretation of the classic Shakespeare comedy was shot in his home during a break in making the blockbuster “The Avengers,” sticking to the Bard’s language but updating to a contemporary setting. Alexis Denisof and Amy Acker star as the bickering Benedick and Beatrice, around whose pairing much of the action revolves. (PG-13) 1 p.m. daily.

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“Muscle Shoals”: An acclaimed documentary about the legendary music studio in Muscle Shoals, Ala., features performances by and interviews with superstar musicians including Mick Jagger, Gregg Allman and Jerry Lee Lewis. (PG) 9:30 p.m. daily.

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“Nebraska”: A father (Bruce Dern) and son (Will Forte) go on a road trip when the elder believes he has won a million-dollar mail sweepstakes. The film was nominated for Best Picture and also received noms for Dern (Best Actor) and June Squibb (Best Supporting Actress). (R) 7 p.m. daily.

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Oscar-Nominated Animated Short Films: See all five of this year’s nominees for Best Animated Short Film, including the winner, “Mr. Hublot.” (Not rated) 4 p.m. daily.

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Oscar-Nominated Live Action Short Films: See all five of this year’s nominees for Best Live Action Short Film, including the winner, “Helium.” (Not rated) 9:30 p.m. daily.

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“What Maisie Knew”: In this conteporary adaptation of the 1897 Henry James novel, a young girl (Onata Aprile) is caught in the middle when her rock star mother (Julianne Moore) and her art dealer father (Steve Coogan) split up. (R) 4 p.m. daily.